Lohagad literally means a fort which is unbeatable & strong like Iron. It is one of the best treks near Mumbai & Pune. Being in Lonavala region, it attracts tourist on weekend due to its easy accessibility. During monsoon, it gets covered with dark clouds creating a good weather for trekkers. Lohagad is a part of western ghats & stands 3400 ft above sea level. Most importantly, it offers commanding view of Pawna Lake and surrounding region. Fort stands strong till date along with its twin fort Visapur. According to history, fort was under Maratha Empire for most of the time except 5 yrs of Mughal reign.

Base Village: Lohagadwadi

Time to Ascend: 20 Minutes (Approximately)

There are proper steps to reach plateau on fort top. Furthermore, it takes one hour minimum to explore entire plateau. There is one interesting part of the fort called Vinchukaata (Scorpion’s tail) because of its resembling shape

Vinchu Kata

How to Reach Lohagad

Lonavala is the nearest city. Fort is located 15 Km from the Lonavala city. Once you reach Lonavala, hire share taxi to reach Lohagad base which cost you around Rs. 100-150 per person.

By Air –

Mumbai & Pune airports are 100 & 66 Km away from the Lohagad fort respectively. One can reach Lonavala easily by road or by train, as there are frequent transportation options available.

By Road –

One can reach Lonavala easily by road, as there are frequent state & private transportation options available.

IMP Note: If you are going by your own vehicle. There are two routes preferable to reach Lohagad by road, one is from Lonavala city and other one is from Malavali village. Both are steep, but via Malavali it is very risky and hence should be avoided. It’s heaven for bike riders, they can choose any route but make sure you are perfect rider as roads are bit challenging. Those who are new to the Lonavala city, expect some traffic during monsoon.

By Train –

There are many Express trains from Mumbai to reach Lonavala. From Pune its very cost effective if you catch the local trains. Here is the local train time table for your reference. Get down at Malavali station and get into share taxi which will drop you at the base village in Rs. 60 only.

Mahadeo Temple & Plateau

Best time to Visit Lohagad

Although one can visit fort throughout the year, Monsoon is considered as the best season to explore and enjoy the nature. However, Winter & Summer are good for overnight Lohgad valley camping.

Visapur from Lohagad fort

Places to visit around Lohagad

Best Food Options

At the base of Lohagad, there are many stalls run by local villagers and everyone offers delicious food variety including Veg, Non-Veg and Jain. I will recommend “Lohagad Sai Hotel ” and its local dish that you should try i.e. Pithala-Bhakri for Veg and Chicken curry for Non-vegetarian. During monsoon, one should try Vada Paav.

Cannons of Lohagad

Entry Timings of Lohagad

There government guards on entry gates of the fort. Fort opens early in the morning by 6:00 AM and closes by 6:00 PM in the evening. No one is allowed to stay or visit during night.

Entry Tickets for Lohagad fort

There are no entry tickets but I saw one board during my Lohagad trip mentioning that soon they will be charging nominal entry fees to visitors so that they can maintain the historical fort.

Bastion

Parking Charges

There are Parking slots available at the base. It is controlled by a local committee which takes Rs. 50 per four wheeler and Rs. 100 per heavy vehicle.

Pawna Lake View from Lohagad

To summarize, Lohagad fort is best weekend getaway and picnic spot near Pune. It is a good trek for beginners. One can start hiking journey from Lohgad. If you are not comfortable in exploring it in your own you can choose scheduled event of Small Steps Adventures. Feel free to comment if you have any queries related to the Lohagad. I would love to know your Lohagad experience, do comment and feel free to share.

Just an Indian Travel Blogger. I left my corporate job & IT business to explore locations and adventure activities. Now, my job is to travel to unique destinations. Sometimes I lead adventure trips of Small Steps Adventures. You can join SSA trips or you can virtually experience those tours through my Blogs. I am always ready to hear from you. Drop me a comment. Share your experiences. You can be in touch with me on Instagram @thewandereryogi.

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About Me

Just an Indian Travel Blogger. I left my corporate job to do IT business. IT business failed miserably. Before arising question of what to do next, adventure bug already bitten me. Later, I started to explore locations and adventure activities. Formed an adventure company – Small Steps Adventures. Now my full-time job is to travel to unique destinations. Sometimes I lead adventure trips of Small Steps Adventures. You can join SSA trips or you can virtually experience those tours through my Blogs. I am always ready to hear from you. Drop me a comment. Share your experiences. You can be in touch with me on Instagram @thewandereryogi.